Christmas Card love

One of my favorite ways of ringing in the Christmas season is giving and receiving Christmas cards. Ohhhh, I always get soooo excited when they start showing up in my mailbox! I love to sit down with a cup of tea, holiday music playing on my record player, and open each card and read each letter. What a JOY!

 This year I had a blast checking out the great card choices over at Artifact Uprising. They offers such clean and simple designs, I had a hard time choosing!! On our trip to Sweden this summer, my cousin Samuel snapped this picture of Kevin and I on a Swedish Dahla horse. I loved how the red horse just popped and added a special Christmas flare to it! Because the picture had so much going on, I opted for a very simple "Merry Christmas" design which I felt was perfect:)

Are you giving away Christmas cards this year?
If so…check out Artifact Uprising and you can save 10%-20% on all products in their shop!!
xoxo

Thanksgiving 2015

Thanksgiving may be my favorite holiday. My family has celebrated the same way for so many years, and there is so much JOY and excitement in the tradition of the holiday. We started the day with the Run for Food through the park (supporting the local homeless shelter). Oh my goodness you guys, the trees were absolutely gorgeous! So brilliant and beautiful in all their colors. I couldn't stop starting! It felt so great to exercise early in the crisp cold air, and seeing so many friends was a blessing. 

My parents then had around 25 people over to the house for appetizers. What made it ever more special was that my grandpa (who has been in the hospital) was able to spend 4 hours with us, before having to go back to the rehab hospital. The whole family gathered around him, and we sang some old thanksgiving hymns, and then sang a Swedish song because my cousin Hanna was visiting from Sweden and got to experience her first Thanksgiving!! I read some Thanksgiving scripture from the Bible and we enjoyed just being together. 

Then we headed to food!! Oh goodness, do I ever love Thanksgiving food! Sweet potatoes are my favorite, yum yum! My parents made the whole meal gluten/dairy free so I could partake (bless their hearts)! After eating more than I should have (!!), we all grabbed our jackets and went on a walk throughout the neighborhoods to make room for pie:) haha! 

When we returned, we put the coffee on, sliced the pie, and all enjoyed our time together. We spent some time going around and sharing what we were each thankful for. It was hilarious…I haven't laughed that hard is so long. Then we ended the night in a rousing game, laughing until it hurt. 

One thing I noticed about these special days is how family is so healing for me. No matter how stressed or down i've been, so much of that seems to dissipate when i'm around people who love me so deeply. Who make me laugh and create a safe place for me to be me. Family is such a gift, and I cannot thank God enough for these great people. 

A few things i'm thankful for in 2015: 

- Finishing graduate school (I only have 2 more weeks!! eeeppp!!!) 

- My parent's support in helping us transition to Northern California

- A whole week with my best friend in Haiti this past May 

- My in-laws opening their home these last few years for us to live in rent-free (such a gift!) 

- Adventuring in Ecuador and Columbia with my sweet Kevin 

- Our incredible Swedish cousins who opened their homes to us on our visit to Sweden in August

- My friend Emmy, because without her, I would not have made it through grad school! 

- God's grace and blessing this year. He was so good to teach and grow me, even when it was so hard! 

- Inner Peas from Trader Joes:) haha Got me through many a study sesh! 

- The international student's we've met through conversation cafe 

- My siblings, who encourage me so much! Love you Pete, Lens, and Polls 

- You my sweet readers, who I admire and am so thankful for every comment, email and connection! 

How was YOUR thanksgiving?? Hope it was truly wonderful and encouraging!!  

Wildflower Roots Ring Give-Away

One of the most beautiful things for me to watch is when friends discover and pursue a passion that God has placed upon their hearts. My talented friend Meredith spent a year in India working for Purpose Jewelry (whom I also love!), and then bravely stepped out on her own to create the sweetest most simple jewelry line called Wildflower roots. 

A few months ago Meredith asked me to be a model for their Fall collection photo shoot. I was so honored to join their great team, and it was sure fun to be on a different side of the camera than I usually am! 5 of us girls took the trek one weekend out to Joshua Tree National Park. Wow, it was so beautiful! We capped off the night eating at the iconic Pappy & Harriet's BBQ restaurant.

Thanks to Meredith's generosity, I am so excited to be giving away my favorite ring in her Fall line, awesomely titled the blank space ring (thanks for the inspo, T Swift!). Even cooler is that i'm giving away a pair so you can stack!! That's how i've been wearing mine around all week!!

What I love about Wildflower Roots is that everything is simple but insanely creative, which is totally my style! People have been complimenting this necklace all week! Also, everything is handmade by Meredith (trust me, I biked to her house last week and saw her working away in her garage, she's a jewelry boss!). And lastly, it's all priced very affordable for the quality and craftsmanship you are getting.

Hooked yet? I know I am!

Here's what you need to do to enter the giveaway…
1) Check out Wildflower Root's Etsy shop here and pick out your favorite item, and write it in a comment on this post!
2) Follow Wildflower Roots on IG here {If you don't have IG, no worries, you can still enter the give-away by following step 1!}

That's it!!

Happy Wednesday Friends!!
ps- Thank you to all the sweet and kind words you showered me after Monday's post. I always feel so encouraged from all of you!! xoxo